Belfry Bulletin Number 299

101

Vol XXVI No.9

B 72 B

CONTENTS

No. 299

BRISTOL EXPLORATION CLUB

List of Club Officers

Page 101

Editorial

Page 102

EQUIPMENT FOR CAVE PHOTOGRAPHY (Part 1) Page 103 Meet the candidates

Page 105

Financial Statement

Page 108

Dates for your Diary

Page 107

Hon. Treasurer’s Report for 1972

Page 107

Belfry Engineer’s Report for 1972

Page 109

Climbing Secretary’s Report

Page 109

Hut Warden’s Report

Page 110

Librarian’s Report

Page 112

Hon. Secretary’s Report

Page 113

Monthly Crossword No.22

Page 114

Any views expressed by any contributor to the Belfry Bulletin, including those of officers of the club, do not necessarily coincide with those of the editor or the committee of the Bristol Exploration Club, unless stated as being the view of the committee or editor.

MENDIP RESCUE ORGANISATION

September 1972

CLUB HEADQUARTERS ‘The Belfry’, Wells Rd., Priddy, Wells, Somerset.

Tele: WELLS 72126 CLUB COMMITTEE Chairman: S.J. Collins Minutes Sec: D. Turner Members: R. Bagshaw; R. Hobbs; D.J. Irwin; N. Jago; T.E. Large; A.R. Thomas;

OFFICERS OF THE CLUB Hon. Secretary: A.R. Thomas, Allen’s House, Nine Barrows Lane, Priddy, Wells, Somerset. Tel: PRIDDY 269.

Hon. Treasurer: R.J. Bagshaw, 699 Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol 4.

Tel: WHITCHURCH. 5626.

Caving Sec: T.E. Large, 39 Seymour Ave, Bishopston, Bristol.

Climbing Sec: N. Jago, 27 Quantock Rd, Windmill Hill, Bedminster, Bristol 3.

Hut Warden: R. Orr. ‘The Belfry’, as above.

Hut Engineer: R. Hobbs, Rose Cottage, West End, Nailsea, Bristol. Tele BRISTOL 77368 Tacklemaster: D. Turner. Address to follow.

B.B. Editor: S.J. Collins, Lavender Cottage, Bishop Sutton, Nr. Bristol.

Librarian: D.J. Irwin, Townsend Cottage, Priddy, Wells, Somerset.

Publications: D.J. Irwin. Address as above B.B. Post: Mrs. K. Mansfield, Tiny Kott, Little London, Oakhill, Bath, Somerset.

In case of emergency telephone WELLS 73481. _______________________________________________________________________________________

A.G.M. and DINNER!

Seven stars opens at 10.30 a.m. A.G.M. at 2.30 pm. Dinner at the Cave Man Restaurant, Cheddar 7 for 7.30 pm. Price £1.10 (22/-) EACH. Send your money to BOB BAGSHAW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SOME FREE BEER at the dinner. O.C.L.’s UNIQUE PUNCH & JUDY SHOW. CAVING EXHIBITION FILM, ETC. ETC. MAKE A DAY (AND A NIGHT ) OF IT.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH

102

Editorial THE VOTING SEASON Whatever other clubs mayor may not do, our club is run by the simple expedient of electing a number of people who we then collectively charge with the responsibility of running it on our behalf for the next year.

The Annual Reports of many of the officers they elect are in this B.B. In addition some space has been devoted to a description of the candidates for the 1972-1973 Committee. This is perhaps of more importance than usual owing to the large number who are putting themselves forward for election this year.

There may be some members who might feel inclined to moan at the amount of space taken up in the B.B. by this form of club business at this time of the year, but it must be remembered that many of our members who cannot visit Mendip regularly will need all this information in order to make up their minds on how the various people have done and who might be considered as possible alternatives.

A.G.M. AND DINNER Readers will find reminders liberally spread all over the pages of this B.B. It should be unnecessary to remind any member of the importance of attending the A.G.M. if at all possible - to some extent, the same applies to the dinner as it is our main social 'get-together' of the year. All the information you need will be found in this B. B. COMMENT Many members might regard the Club Officers' Reports as being sub-judice until the A.G.M. has had a chance to discuss them - and by this token, any form of editorial comment might be regarded as a form of partisanship. It is thus necessary to tread very warily and to reserve any form of opionated comment for next month's B.B. What would appear to be fair comment, however, is to note that on the face of things at least, two of our most pressing problems appear to be well on the way to acceptable solutions. The club library is at last housed in the Belfry, where it was always intended that it should be housed. It has been catalogued and valued (we understand that its value is in the region of ÂŁ600 - a fact which should make members sit up and take notice!) all the periodicals have been bound and efforts are being made to replace all missing issues.

As, perhaps, a natural result of its availability and all the effort which has been put into it, borrowings are up and it looks as if we now have a library in full going order.

As many people know, much time has been spent this year by the committee on looking into the Belfry generally. The issue here may be slightly more contentious, but at any rate the financial position looks sound, with the bed nights only some 13% away from the all-time record. The state of the Belfry recently has been the subject of much favourable comment and perhaps the depth and scope of the committee enquiry did, in fact, produce some results.

As against this, the Hon. Secretary's Report opens on a less optimistic note, which he promises to enlarge upon at the A.G.M. itself. As stated earlier, we must not attempt to speculate on what these remarks will be, but merely note that this A.G.M. could be one of lively interest, and urge as many members as possible to attend.

LUCKY THIRTEEN In these days, when so many people complain that nobody seems to take any interest in running things like our club, we are in a fortunate position in having so many members willing to serve on the committee if elected. We hope that all members will appreciate their public spirit. “Alfie� _______________________________________________________________________________________ The editor would like to thank those who have sent in articles or which there has been no room this month owing to the space taken up by club business at this time of the year.

103

Equipment for Cave Photography

This article, by ALAN COASE, is from a paper delivered by him to the C.R.G. We are particularly pleased to be allowed to reprint this in the B.B., since it follows the tradition set by his brother Don on cave photography.

Portability, reliability, versatility. The cave photographer may argue at length about his specific requirements in equipment, but undoubtedly these qualities would be amongst the most important he would assess. Clearly the object of is photography, his financial resources and the nature of the caves with which he is most concerned also playa major part.

The writer has increasingly found that his cave photography ends to divide into two distinct forms. On the one hand there are the comparatively casual photographs taken during the course of other caving activities whilst on the other there are those obtained as a direct result of an essentially photographic trip. In discussing the range of equipment available for such diverse ends, it is hoped that the range of equipment reviewed may assist others in their selection.

As specialised fields (for example, close-up techniques) are being discussed by other speakers, little or no emphasis will be placed upon equipment solely relevant to them. The paper will be principally concerned with the carriage and protection of equipment; cameras and lenses; camera supports; flash equipment; films, and miscellaneous aids.

TRANSPORT AND PROTECTION The essential requirements for carrying equipment underground are that the cases should be reasonably lightweight and portable, strong and completely waterproof. Fortunately, various military authorities have had similar needs and in the form of surplus ammunition boxes, a nearly ideal case is available at a relatively low cost. Such boxes come in two sizes and have a very simple and efficient rubber seal.

The two sizes fit well with the two categories of photography outlined above; for the smaller one is easy to carry and will comfortably accept a small amount of first aid kit, food and lighting spares as well as a small camera and flashgun. The larger case is sufficient for a more complex outfit including perhaps a single lens reflex, an alternative lens, one or more flashguns and bulbs and even a compact folding tripod. The boxes can be lined with foam rubber or neoprene to cushion the equipment, or even full customised so that every item has its specific place. The inside of the lid can also be utilised for a few technical details. viz.

Guide numbers for a particular flash/film combination.

Although other cases do exist on the market, few of them seem very suitable. One that does merit attention however is the Rollei Matal ever ready case. This extremely ingenious, comparatively lightweight case has been design with fairly tough treatment in mind and, used in conjunction with an ammunition box for extreme conditions, might prove very effective. However, its new price is very high.

A number of underwater cases do exist for some popular cameras, but generally cost and bulk rule these out. A number of do-it-yourself ideas for plastic underwater cases have been outlined recently in photographic and sub aqua journals. These have primarily been designed for underwater work, but they could equally well be used for our purpose if flash synchronisation is maintained.

An easier and quite useful aid is the construction of a neoprene "wet suit" cum ever ready case for the camera. The object is not; of course, complete waterproofing, but to provide a shock proof layer and to minimise damage from muddy hands. The one-piece case is tailored to fit as tightly as possible with apertures left wherever necessary for viewfinder, speed dial etc. A further modification is to fit the lens barrel focussing ring with a neoprene skin on which the focussing distances are clearly marked in paint.

CAMERA SUPPORTS The main form of support is, of course, the tripod which is really essential for the more complex aspects of underground photography. The chief problem is of reconciling the need for absolute rigidity with portability. Generally speaking the really compact tripods with brass spring catches and folding tubular legs are neither very stable nor very enduring. At the other extreme the really rigid studio tripod is far too

104 cumbersome for all but the easiest caves. Fortunately it large number of tripods do lie between these extremes. Some of them are nearly ideal for our purposes. Simplicity of construction is a major virtue especially in the locking mechanism on the legs. Some rely on a twist lock mechanism based on nylon threads, but cave grit soon reduces these to impotence. Far better are the clamp or wheel locking devises which arc usually employed on U-section legs which are easily accessible for maintenance or cleaning. The Linhof range particularly fits the bill here and their Lightweight Professional is ideal for serious cave photography; being stable, tough and yet relatively light in weight. Its stability is increased by the umbrella strut construction linking the legs to the centre column. While expensive at list price, Linhofs do appear to be relatively common second hand.

Compact and ingenious camera clamps are readily available but the principal disadvantage with these is that one cannot always find suitable clamping positions in a cave.

Pistol grips and/or flash brackets have considerable virtues where they permit the flash to be used away from the camera and a built-in cable release further reduces the handling of the camera. However, they seem best suited to 'trip' photography which by their very bulk they may complicate.

FLASH EQUIPMENT Discussion is effectively limited to the question of bulb and electronic equipment, there being no reference to flashpowder, magnesium ribbon or other lighting forms, although it is of course possible to obtain cave photographs by using candles, carbide lamps, portable gas lamps etc. as light sources.

The relative values of bulbs and electronic flash equipment are frequently discussed in the photographic press. Often it is economics that determine the answer reached but in cave photography, where lighting techniques are of major importance, other factors such as light output, size, weight and safety also require consideration.

In terms of light output, flash outfits are generally far more powerful than electronic units. To approach the same power output the latter are at present very large and bulky but time is an important factor here for, while miniaturisation is occurring with both groups, the greatest potential lies with the electronic units, which are far smaller than the corresponding units of a few years ago.

An increasing degree of 'automation' is also being developed in electronic units where 'sensors' are beginning to take some of the guesswork out of guide numbers. Similar units are readily available in the form of 'slave guns' which instantaneously trigger off second bulb or electronic guns. An ingenious bulb unit incorporating such a device is the "Bo-Flash", marketed by Bowens Ltd., at about ten guineas. The gun allows bulbs up to PF 100 in size to be fixed independently of an operator and may be attached to a second tripod or suitable rock by built-in clamp.

An equally interesting electronic unit is the German Unmat 6000 which, at about ÂŁ30, combines the function of a normal electronic unit with a reasonable output, with that of a slave unit which can be fired off from another flashgun without connecting cords etc.

The economic factor is rather brought to the fore by these two guns, for the bulb unit costs only about one third of the electronic and, even with the smallest bulbs available is more powerful. However, when running costs are considered the equation takes on a different form. The cheapest flash bulbs are about 4p each and of course can only be used once, whereas the electronic flash merely requires charging and maintenance, which with a reliable make should be minimal. (For example, my Metz 163 has had fairly full use for over three years and has needed no replacement parts. This may be in part attributable to the neoprene 'wet suit' in which it too is closeted for its underground visits.) Thus, if only a few flash shots per year are envisaged, bulb flash scores all round, but if the number is larger then electronic outfits merit consideration. In my own case, I find a combination of the two very worthwhile, though it may be as well to point out some of the other advantages of electronic units.

The duration of the flash is very short - thus freezing action, water etc. very effectively, even with a focal plane shutter where flash synchronisation speeds may be comparatively slow. The colour temperature is normally higher than that of a bulb, giving a more correct colour rendering. Electronic guns almost always have an open flash button (comparatively rare on bulb flash) and this is invaluable if a chamber is to be

105 'painted' with several shots or where shots entirely off the camera are required. With the exception of the really powerful guns like the Metz 502 and the Braun F7OO/8OO range, most units take up the space otherwise occupied by two or three packets of bulbs or one P.F.100!

A wide variety of bulb flashguns exist. The most compact, apart from the specialised cube guns, have folding reflectors and are usually limited to cap less bulbs in A.G.1B, P.F.1B and P.F.5B/6B sizes. These cover most needs, but where large chambers exist P.F.60's or P.F.100's might be regarded as essential.

Comparatively few guns handle these apart from the Bo-Flash already mentioned. The Leitz gun with a folding reflector is a particularly useful model that does accept all bulbs, but this lacks a built-in firing button, which is a disadvantage. The Kobold B. C. guns do have this provision, plus the ability to link two or three supplementary guns but they suffer the disadvantage of having quite large fixed bowl reflectors.

Of the smaller bulb guns, I have found the folding Japanese guns made by National to be excellent value, though the most suitable model, the Hyper B2, with built-in test bulb and open flash button, which sold for under £2 has now been discontinued and its replacement has not got the self firing device. However, a number of B2’s are still available and its replacement (the PB 3S) is otherwise an excellent gun. Other guns do exist at a slightly higher price with this facility, which is invaluable for multi flash pictures. However, by means of a two or three way adaptors several small guns can be synchronised.

The comparatively recent introduction of the flashcube is also of interest. Many small cartridge cameras now have a built-in rotating cube socket and some guns can be obtained which rotate automatically and so set up the next bulb for virtually instant use.

To sum up effectively on this subject is difficult without being subjective, but basically it would seem that the casual photographer would be very effectively served by a small bulb flashgun; while the more involved demands of recording photography for publication etc. might be better met by a combination of bulb and electronic. Certainly if electronic guns are miniaturised still further, it may well be that future enthusiasts will turn to these.

Editor’s Note: The remainder of this interesting paper deals with choice of film, cameras, lenses and miscellaneous equipment. It will, we trust, be published in the next B.B. Members may also be interested to note that Alan Coase has a number of filmstrips for sale on CAVING AND POTHOLING TECHNIQUES (DW-154), CAVES: ORIGINS, DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATION (DW-153) and LIMESTONE LANDFORMS (DW-152 and 152E).

The double frame version, suitable for mounting as individual slides are at X. £2.50 each with notes from DIANA WYLLIE LTD., 3,PARK ROAD, BAKER STREET, LONDON N.W. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Meet the Candidates This year, there are thirteen candidates for the nine places on the committee. All candidates were invited to provide a fifty word summary on any aspect of their past work or future aspirations. Some candidates took advantage of this offer, while others declined. The scheme which has therefore been adopted is to print the summaries – where they were received – in INVERTED COMMAS. In all other cases, a short record of past offices and major work on behalf of the club has been given instead. Posts held outside then club (e.g.

M.R.O., Mendip Cave Registry etc.) have been ignored.

Candidates follow in alphabetical order:BOB BAGSHAW Hon. Secretary 1951-1967. Hon. Treasurer 1951 to present day.

106 ROY BENNETT Tackle Officer 1953-1955. Caving Secretary 1959. Climbing Secretary 1964-1966. Caving Secretary 1966-1967.

ALFIE COLLINS Asst. Caving Secretary 1953-1955. Caving secretary 1955-1957. Hut warden 1955-1959. Editor B.B. 1957-1968 and 1970 to present day. Committee Chairman 1964-1967 and 1970 to present day. Long Term Planning Sec. 1966-1968. New Belfry Co-ordinator 1968-1969.

PETE FRANKLIN “I joined the B.E.C. in 1959 and always enjoyed the freedom and comradeship that it offered. Because of pressure of work I gave up the job of Hut Warden that I occupied in 1970 and 1971, but I am now free to help and willing to serve in any capacity on the new committee if elected.”

RODNEY HOBBS Belfry Engineer 1972.

DAVE IRWIN Caving Secretary 1965-1966. Committee Chairman 1967-1969. Editor B.B. 1968-1970. Publications Editor 1968 to present day. Hon. Librarian 1972. Largely responsible for the Cuthbert’s Survey.

NIGEL JAGO Climbing Secretary 1971-1972.

TIM LARGE Caving Secretary 1970-present day.

JOCK ORR “I wish to serve on the 1972-73 committee and continue as Hut Warden if elected because, although am impressed with the way the new Belfry is shaping up, I believe there is still room for improvement and I am interested in assisting with the administration of the club."

MIKE PALMER Asst.Caving Secretary 1963-1965. Has been responsible for the B.E.C.'s side of the Caving Exhibition at the Bristol Museum.

NIGEL TAYLOR “It’s about time young members took their share of club responsibility and if I were elected to the committee I believe I would pick up valuable experience by serving as a club officer - particularly from the older members. I would like to serve in the capacity of Assistant Hut Warden."

ALAN THOMAS "What! Only fifty words to tell you what an asset I am to the B.E.C.? That's fifteen of them gone already. Oops, There I go again. Well, never mind. If they don't want me to continue as Hon. Sec. they will vote someone else."

DAVE TURNER Minutes Secretary 1970 - present day. Tacklemaster 1972.

---------------------Well, that’s it - the rest is up to you! _______________________________________________________________________________________

107

Dates for your Diary CLUB TRIPS OCTOBER 14TH.

G.B. Leader C. Howel. Chris would like to limit the party to about SIX as he proposes to do some photography Meet at the Belfry 10.30 am.

NOVEMBER 25TH.

Coral Cave, Loxton Cave and the caves of Compton Bishop.

Leader. C. Howell. Meet at Belfry 10.30 am.

FRIDAY NIGHT TRIPS OCTOBER 25TH. OCTOBER 25TH. NOVEMBER 25TH. NOVEMBER 25TH. DECEMBER 25TH. DECEMBER 25TH.

CUTHBERT'S .

SOUTH WALES EAST TWIN PRIDDY GREEN SINK & SWILDONS SINGING RIVER MINE SHIPHAM VELVET BOT1'OM.

7.30 pm Arrive at S.W.C.C. 9.30 pm.

7.30 pm. WITH WET SUIT 7.30 pm.

3 pm.

These trips, which are also published in the Wessex Journal, have been sent in by Mike Palmer, who says that younger members are particularly welcome on them. Prior notice is required for the South Wales trip in order to arrange transport, and the trip win not be suitable for novices. _______________________________________________________________________________________ This report should be read in conjunction with the financial statement published on the next page.

Although the accounts show a surplus of over £70 for the year, there are several items of expenditure still out-standing. These relate to the Belfry and to Publications, which are the two largest items in the club's financial activities. No doubt Dave Irwin will give more information on publications, but I must stress that the accounts show cash received and paid and do not take into consideration any stocks held.

The apparent profit on the telephone was due to the £21-70 recoverable from the M.R.O. as mentioned in my last report.

The comparatively low price of this year's Annual Dinner is being subsidised by the surplus from last year, when we did not pay the full cost.

Although I have been able to convince the Inspector of Tax that our Belfry income is not liable to income tax, the interest on our bank accounts and the National Development Bonds is still liable for tax. The Ian Dear Memorial Fund is therefore being switched to a building society account and the National Savings Bank account and the deposit account will probably be closed later this year.

Finally, I am giving the club one year's notice to find a new Treasurer, as I shall not be standing for the committee next year - even if I am elected this year.

R.J.Bagshaw, Hon. Treasurer. _______________________________________________________________________________________ DON'T FORGET THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – 2.30 PM AT THE SEVEN STARS, THOMAS STREET, BRISTOL (Just at the back of Robinson Building by Bristol Bridge). SATURDAY, OCT. 7TH.

108 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR TO THE THIRTY FIRST OF JULY 1972 SUBSCRIPTIONS BELFRY CLUB TIES: CARBIDE, &c N.S.B. TACKLE INTEREST ANNUAL DINNER DONATIONS, ETC TELEPHONE

POSTAGES AND STATIONERY PUBLICATIONS

LIBRARY CAR BADGES PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURNCE. INCOME TAX DONATIONS TO M.R.O. COUNCIL SOUTHERN C. C. CAVE RESEARCH GROUP CHARTERHOUSE C.C. SUNDRIES SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR

GENERAL ACCUMULATED ADD SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR GENERAL ACCUMULATED I.D.M.F. accumulated income to

National Savings Bank Account Lloyds Bank Ltd Current Account Lloyds Bank Ltd Deposit Account Cash in hand TOTAL CUB MONIES @ 31.7.72

£ 223.78 Receipts Less Expenditure Sales Sales Less Sales Interest Fees Less Expenditure Deposit Account Receipts Less Cost

£ 368.12 £ 298.85 £ 0.87 £ 38.80 £ 31.46

Contributions Less Charges

£ 65.22 £ 54.24

£ £

8.88 6.00

£ 139.10 £ 126.00

£ 10.27 £ £

7.34 3.33

£ £

2.88 4.47

£ 13.10 £ 17.04 £ 10.98 £ 363.09 £ 20.48

Stationery & Printing B.B. Postage Less sales

£ £ £ £

Purchases Less Sales

£ 14.48 £ 11.00

(2 years) (2 years)

FUNDS @ 31.7.71 FUNDS @ 31.7.72 15.1.72

287.20 74.81 362.01 168.66

£ 193.35 £ 7.35 £ 3.48 £ 30.00 £ 9.83 £ 10.00 £ 3.00 £ 3.00 £ 8.50 £ 1.67 £ 290.66 £ 72.43 £ 363.09 £ 232.25 £ 72.43 £ 304.68 £ 42.84 £ 347.52 £ 99.14 £ 155.81 £ 63.45 £ 29.12 £ 347.52

IAN DEAR MEMORIAL FUND Accumulated income to15.1.71 Interest on £310 to 15.1.72 Accumulated Income @ 15.1.71 Less Income Tax (2 years) Accumulated income to 15.1.72

£ £ £ £ £

39.40 17.04 56.44 13.60 42.84

109 Rodney Hobbs took over as Hut Engineer during 1972, and his report covers the period during which he has been Hut Engineer.

Since I became Hut Engineer there have been several improvements to the Belfry. The Men’s room has been altered to allow more room for moving about; plans have been drawn up for altering the Women’s room - but these have not yet been put in hand.

A new water main was laid to the Belfry and toilets, the Belfry has been redecorated - thanks to the willing members with paint brushes and other jobs done have included a new door for the carbide store; repairs to the doors and roof of the toilets and the re-puttying of the Belfry windows.

Heating should be better this winter, as two storage heaters are in the process of being installed in the two dormitories.

There is still quite a lot of work to be done, will get done as soon as time and money allow. Let us all work together on the Belfry and try to make it the best club headquarters on Mendip.

Rodney Hobbs, Hon. Hut Engineer. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Another of the Annual Club Officers' Reports. For 1971 - 1972.

After the ups and downs of the A.G.M. weekend, climbing got off the ground, so to speak, with some good routes done locally at Cheddar and the Avon Gorge which continued throughout the year.

At Portishead, a quarry has been given the B.E.C. approval, with six new routes of varying grades.

Holidays were spent on English soil in Cornwall, North Wales and the Lakes - where classic routes were climbed. Members of this small group have also been camping on the odd occasion.

This summer, only a small number have been climbing in the evenings, but weekends have seen a lot of varying interests of which climbing has accounted for a lot of leisure time with good attendances.

This small section of the club has lost a few members, which is a shame. I would like to see more new faces in the coming year - of any age. Perhaps we should promote our club in the area a lot more, because, after all, the more active and interested the members; the more active, interesting and solvent a good club can become.

I hope and look forward to a better year in 1972-73 that will put the B.E.C. up another rung in the ladder.

Nigel Jago., Hon. Climbing Secretary. _______________________________________________________________________________________ Change of Address.

R.CROSS, 11 St. Abbs Drive, Odsal,Bradford, Yorkshire.

110

This report covers the period 6th August 1971 to the end of the club financial year 31st of July 1972. The table shown below reveals that bed-nights totalled 1,598.

BELFRY USAGE Male Club Members Female Club Members Male Visitors Female Visitors TOTALS

BED-NIGHTS % TOTAL 54.6 873 8.1 129 32.0 511 5.3 85 1,598 = 100%

FEES % TOTAL 73.7 £130.95 6.5 £19.35 42.7 £127.75 7.1 £21.25 £299.30 = 100%

Recalling the discussion about the Belfry being inundated with visitors on the one hand; and on the other hand that visitors were necessary to the good financial health of the club and should be made welcome. It is interesting to note that club members contributed 62.7% of the Belfry usage and visitors 37.3%. The table also reveals that the visitors contributed 49.8% of the total amount of fees received. Not a bad return for an outlay of approximately one third of the Belfry usage. As for the 'inundation' theory, there have been four instances of overcrowding: Nov. 12/14 Nov. 19/21 Feb. 18/20 April 31/May 3

41 Visitor’s Bed-nights 53 Visitor’s Bed-nights 26 Visitor’s Bed-nights 40 Visitor’s Bed-nights

10 Member’s Bed-nights 9 Member’s Bed-nights 34 Member’s Bed-nights 30 Member’s Bed-nights

The remaining weekends being well within comfortable limits.

BED NIGHTS LEAGUE There was a tradition in the old wooden Belfry that the Hut Warden awarded order of priority of choice of personal lockers according to member’s position on the Bed-night league. So there was keen competition to get in as many bed-nights as possible. Since there is a scheme afoot to install lockers again, the following people of the 73 club members who in an appearance at the Belfry lead the field this year: Jock Orr 229; Frank Jones 72; Tony Tucker 53; Graham Phippen 48;Sue Gazzard 41; Nigel Taylor 37; Dave Irwin, Bob Cross, Tim and Maggie Large 35.

Those wishing to check the bed-night figures will find them pinned up on the Belfry notice board.

NOTES ON INCOME AND EXPENDITURE In addition to Hut Fees received; day fees, camping, tackle fees, the conscience box, publications, ties and badges, keys, spares and carbide brought in £147.48.

Publications sold at the Belfry accounted for a slice of £54.93 of that amount. Tackle Fees were disappointing at £7.36. Camping earned £13.18. The turnover of spares and carbide was £39.93. With spares and carbide still in stock, this line appears to be profitable. (Editor's note: Camping fees should read £7.56 - my mistake above).

Money spent at the Belfry included £4.47 for tools and £38.5 on materials for maintenance and minor, improvements. In respect of the heavy cost of coke last winter, further purchases of fuel up to the weekend of 5/7 amounted to £4.10. Owing to the weather, fires were lit on the weekend of October 8/10 and

111 continued through to May 19/21. During this period 1,064 bed-nights were totted up. No doubt the pending installation of storage heaters will substantially reduce the forthcoming winter fuel costs and alleviate the high incidence of bronchitis experienced last winter.

According to the records, the consumption of Glogas amounted to 15 cylinders and cost £23.13 or 1½ new pence per bed-night, which seems to me to be an astonishingly reasonable amount. (Editor's Note: Bryan Ellis, when Hut Warden of the Shepton, used to reckon on 100 bed-nights per gas cylinder for an efficiently run hut. These figures are better than this.)

REMARKS Generally, the conduct of Club Members and visitors staying at, or dropping into the Belfry is both responsible and social. But there is still a regrettable tendency to take it all for granted and to expect everything to be laid on without making any contribution in the way of work. This attitude is especially noticeable amongst the recently joined members, and is quite understandable when it is realised that perhaps their only fault is a sheer lack of information on what the club is all about. Where are the copies of the Constitution and Club Rules that every new member is supposed to have?

The newcomer's view is that here is ten thousand pounds worth of club property apparently sprung up out of the ground for his benefit and all he has to do is to make himself known and pay his subscription to get in - and because the place looks fairly tidy, he jumps to the conclusion that it is all finished and complete.

There is no suggestion intended that past efforts and achievements have everlastingly to be drummed into the consciences of our more recently joined members, but the fact remains that the newer members and those in the future must be educated into an appreciation that the maintenance; repair and improvement of the club premises is as much up to them as to anybody else and that to stay at the club not only requires the contribution of a very nominal hut fee, but also a contribution of willingness to perform some voluntary or allotted task.

Just pause to think what sort of state the place would be in if it had not been for the attentive efforts of the few who take an interest in keeping the present tidy condition of the Belfry and see to the odd jobs. I think that the more senior cub members who have pride in what has been achieved should be responsible in making it quite clear that they expect new cub members to continue this standard.

It would be unfair to emphasise that there is room for some improvement within the more junior segment of the club, when here is also an area of criticism affecting another aspect of club activity. I refer to the members who use the Belfry during the week or the weekend on a day basis, or who pop in on a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon. A cross section of this group ranges from new to long established members.

Some have contributed cash, time and effort over the past years and all, of course, are entitled to use the Belfry just as everybody else is - but at the risk of offending (which is not my intention) and to put it as tactfully as I can, a proportion of this group studiously avoids the conscience box, or chooses to forget payment of a day fee to club funds.

The latest example of this parsimony, for that's all it is, was at Keith Glossop' s barrel on the 26th August.

There was exactly 40 new pence in the box before the barrel and 44½ new pence afterwards.

Shame! I have seen appreciative new members put cash in the box over and above their hut fees. I have observed senior members drop a 50p coin into the box in passing by. But to watch the performance of members who drink their beer and leave with their hands in their pockets and a hearty word of farewell saying what a great evening it has been is positively embarrassing. Come along now, gentlemen. You don't need me to remind you that you can do better than that. It's no disgrace to drop a two pence piece in the box.

RECOMMENDATIONS The 1972 committee has sanctioned the installation of two storage heaters to keep heat in the building during the winter months. This is a most acceptable improvement which will encourage more people to stay at the Belfry and thus lead to an increase in bed-nights and hut fees received by the club. What I would like to point out is that the heater installation was initiated by a small group of club members getting together and thrashing out a practical proposition to put to the committee for consideration.

112 May I suggest that it is up to members who use the Belfry and are aware of the various shortcomings, to approach the committee with schemes for improvement? For instance, there is the well-known problem of the down draughting chimney. Or how about the new staircase to the attic? The attic floor? The Tackle store roof? The much talked about improvements to the Women’s Room? Steps at the end door to the Belfry? And so on.

To conclude this report, I think that the new Belfry is a great improvement on the old one, but the modus operandi of caving is undergoing a noticeable change and a fair number of local people with transport use the Belfry merely as a base for changing and then depart for home afterwards. From the bed-night figures, the number of people staying at the Belfry may appear satisfactory, but the building could certainly accommodate an increase on those numbers at the weekend.

There are indications that the club is in the process of acquiring a new grade of caver who are investing the Belfry with their own traditions. One of the unique hallmarks of this new breed is that you need not do your caving from a sum. The Belfry is treated with far more respect and consideration than it ever had, and according to visitor’s comments; it is a credit to the B.E.C. Every now and again, I hear from people who complain that this new Belfry lacks the "atmosphere" of the old wooden Belfry. I prefer to believe that our new Belfry is beginning to develop character rather than "atmosphere".

Jock Orr Hon. Hut Warden. _______________________________________________________________________________________ On the resignation of Dave Searle as club Librarian I took over the task of installing the library at the Belfry. Up to March this year the library had, through the kind offices of Dave Searle, been kept at Dolphin Cottage. To enable the library to be installed at the Belfry, ‘Jok’ Orr assembled a. number of cabinets in the library room in readiness for the transfer from Dolphin Cottage. The books and periodicals were in a chaotic state when they arrived at the Belfry and no one person knew what was contained in the collection.

The first task was to sort and catalogue the entire collection before it could be used by members.

Through the grateful help of Kay Mansfield the publications were sorted and bound. The binding – tough not elegant - is certainly strong enough for normal handling and reference purposes. Each item in the collection was then catalogued on cards and finally placed at the Belfry for member’s use. Where complete volumes of periodicals existed, these were bound and the incomplete sets placed in temporary folders.

Members are requested not to remove these loose items from their folders. When, in future, the missing items are replaced or new issues make a complete volume, these will be permanently bound. The books have been catalogued and grouped into subject matter.

In order to ensure that the rarer items in the collection are safeguarded I have, with the committee's approval, taken steps to prevent these from being taken from the library room. These books are easily identifiable as there are red crosses along the top of the catalogue card.

During sorting and cataloguing, several duplicate items were found and these, plus most of the B.B. duplicates, are being exchanged or sold to enable further purchases for the library to be made. Any member having ideas for new items to be added to the collection should please contact me. On this subject one should bear in mind a committee decision of some 8 years ago that general books on caving or climbing that are easily obtainable from public libraries will not be included in the collection - unless donated to the club!

To enable volumes of club publications to be completed, I have contacted each club library’s on the exchange list requesting all the missing copies and offering missing B.B.'s in return. The result so far has been extremely encouraging. Quite apart from new publications, some 70 to 80 new items have been added

113 to the collection this way. They include Red Rose; Chelsea S.S.; and various other clubs. This policy will be continuing. If members have publications that are not in the club library, perhaps they would consider giving them to the collection. We are particularly weak on the following clubs:- C.D.G.; Cerberus S.S.; Cotham; U.L.S.A.; British Caver Nos 1-14; early U.B.S.S. Proceedings; Pengelly; Early W.C.C. ( Nos 1-40 ) and N.S.S. It is easily within our grasp to expand the library in all directions. Members are now oriented to other caving regions and foreign countries and to this end I am endeavouring to enlarge the number of exchanges to include clubs throughout all countries in Europe and general cover from all major regions throughout the world. European overage includes publications from Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Austria. We want contacts in France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden etc.

Since the library has come into general use, members have been borrowing items at a good rate and borrowing in the last few months (March - August) than here has been in the last five years. I hope that this will be kept up.

Duing the next few months, there will be published in the B.B. a pull-out supplement containing a catalogue of the entire collection. Finally, I would like to make a special mention of the work done by Kay Mansfield in binding the complete volumes and to Ray Mansfield for valuing the collection for insurance purposes. The value is high enough to make members sit up and make sure the library collection is not abused.

D.J. Irwin, Hon. Librarian. _______________________________________________________________________________________ It is with regret that I must report that 1971-72 has not been a good year for the club. Never has the task of the committee been a more thankless one, nor one more fraught with difficulty.

Never has our public image, as projected to other clubs, been worse. To begin at the beginning - there was such dissatisfaction among members over the catering arrangements of last year’s dinner that we were forced to enter into protracted correspondence, involving solicitors as well, with the management in order to get a reduction in the bill which the refund is to be ploughed back into this year’s dinner.

Our neighbour this year has been the cause of more trouble than usual. I will give details at the A.G.M. if asked. I optimistically said at last year’s A.G.M. that it would not be beyond the capabilities of the new committee to settle our differences in this respect. It has still not been done and I wish the 1972-73 Committee the best of luck – they need it!

The lease of land from the paper mill is still not completed though there is a little more hope in that direction recently. Considerable changes are taking place in the paper trade and we must watch our interests most carefully.

Relations with otter clubs have been good. Our representation on M.R.O.; The Council of Southern Caving Clubs; the Council of Cambrian Caving Clubs; the National Council and the Charterhouse Caving Committee have all been satisfactory.

The long-awaited exhibition of Caves and Caving in the City Museum has come to fruition. It is well worth a visit by every caver in the district. I do not feel that there is sufficient acknowledgment of the club’s initiative and work.

Grateful thanks are due to Mike Palmer and the Bennett’s who were responsible for the B.E.C.’s side of things.

I should like to express thanks publicly to Barry Wilton for all that he has done in the past year. His technical help on printing matters has been invaluable and helped very considerably to improve our club image.

Committee meetings have been well a tended and there have been few changes in the year. Dave Irwin resigned as Hut Warden early in the year and became Hon. Librarian. Jock Orr was co-opted as Hut Warden. The hiatus created by the resignation of Norman Petty last year as Tacklemaster is still felt. Dave Turner has very recently taken over and is doing his best to get things together again. We badly need another 'ladder maker extraordinary' but alas! they are born and not made.

The library has made tremendous strides. Dave Irwin is to be congratulated, and I hope that present and future generations of the B.E.C. will always treat the library with the respect it deserves.

The Belfry has never been cleaner, tidier or more efficiently run than at present. The Belfry Engineer and Hut Warden between them have faced up manfully to the considerable problems of maintaining our new B. B. in pristine condition.

114 Bob Bagshaw has given us a year's notice of his impending resignation as Hon. Treasurer. He, like Norman, will be difficult to replace.

It may be felt that what has been reported so far is not in line with my opening remarks. A detailed discussion of the factors which gave rise to them would, I feel, be more appropriate at the A.G.M. itself, rather than in this printed report and I will amplify such points on that occasion.

Alan Thomas.

Hon Secretary. _______________________________________________________________________________________

MONTHLY CROSSWORD – Number 26.

Across: 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

1. Small cave dweller. (3) 4. Pitch? Or hall in Hilliers? (3) 6. Common to Mud Hall and traverse Chamber. (5) 7. For any dog in South Wales. (3,2,4) 12. A timely clue in monthly series. (9) 17. Rope material. (5) 18. Found in pub or cave. (3) 19. This down for a drainpipe. (3) Down:

12

13

14

15

17 19

18

16

1. Eastwater step? (4) 2. Operate winch? (4) 3. Dog tooth, perhaps. (4) 4. Short cave dweller. (4) 5. What distinguishes G.B. gorge from Cheddar Gorge (4) 8. End of passage? (3) 9. Found in any etreir (3) 10. Might cause resistance to lightning. (3) 11. This side of 12 down? (3) 13. From Pillar to this perhaps? (4) 14. Precedes water and twin. (4) 15. Three in Swildons and in more senses than one. (4) 16. Pore over this clue for underground aid. (4)

Solution To Last Month’s Crossword S P

B E

O I

N

S P

L R T

R

T

L

A

A

B

R

I

A

A

I

C

A

K G

H O

C

L U

B

L

T H

O

E

L

A I

D E

S T

G G

T O

W O

D

O U

E

R S